Honkai Star Rail: Corruption System

Daziel and Bailu exchanged a glance, a shared spark of curiosity flickering between them.

"Brother Daziel," Bailu began, her voice laced with intrigue, "let's go have a look. Sounds like someone's having a heated argument over there."

"Then… let's go have a look," Daziel conceded with a nod.

Taking Bailu's hand, Daziel moved forward, a light jog turning into a run as they headed towards the rising voices.

Pushing through the gathering onlookers, they reached the pier's edge, finding themselves at the center of a small commotion. A cluster of people stood arguing, their voices overlapping in a rising tide of discontent.

At the heart of the dispute stood a young girl, barely into her teens.

Dressed in yellow and white, with a short black skirt, she gripped a black longsword. Her face was pretty, still holding a touch of youthful innocence, but her current expression was anything but innocent.

Hands planted firmly on her hips, she glared at the men before her, her eyes blazing with indignation.

"Hey, where did this wild thing crawl out from? What business is it of yours?"

A sharp, grating voice sliced through the air, dripping with impatience and sarcasm.

The speaker was a man in a long robe, his eyes hidden behind black sunglasses, golden hair slicked back.

Daziel's gaze sharpened as he took in the scene. Recognition dawned.

Sushang and Scott?

So, the plot I've stumbled into is "Aurum Old Alley's Market is Noisy"?

It struck Daziel then – Aurum Alley before its revival truly had been in a sorry state. No wonder the lack of crowds had felt so pronounced earlier.

"As a Cloud Knight," Sushang declared, her voice clear and firm, ringing with unwavering righteousness, "how can I simply stand by while a conflict erupts at the pier? And for your information, I am not a 'hey' or a 'wild thing' – I am Sushang!"

She puffed out her cheeks, hands still on her hips, and fixed the speaker with a fiery glare, her bright eyes burning with anger.

A woman in the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce uniform, resembling a secretary, quickly stepped forward, attempting to defuse the escalating tension. "Miss Sushang, please allow the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce to handle this."

Sushang blinked, turning her attention to the newcomer, her tone softening slightly. "You're… with the Chamber of Commerce?" she inquired. "You're here to sort this out?"

"Hilarious!" Scott scoffed, cutting through the tentative calm. He folded his arms, a contemptuous smirk playing on his lips, his eyes mocking.

"Everyone here knows the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce is a joke – poorly run, business inept. The pier rent's overdue, unpaid – who do you think is to blame? It's all your Chamber of Commerce's fault!" Scott's voice rose with each word, his tone becoming increasingly harsh, as if determined to pin the entire blame on the Chamber of Commerce.

The secretary's face paled, her head bowed, her voice barely a whisper. "…I won't deny that."

"Then say it louder!" Scott pressed, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "Shout out, 'The Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce apologizes to the shops here, we messed up the pier, everyone in the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce is useless!'"

He advanced a step, his tone a deliberate provocation. "Then give me a proper, loud kowtow for the overdue rent, and apologize to me, representing the company!"

"This person is awfully harsh," Bailu murmured to Daziel, her brow furrowed in distaste.

"That's just Scott," Daziel replied with a shrug, a hint of resignation in his voice. He'd long been familiar with Scott's arrogant demeanor.

The upside, Daziel mused internally, is that he can take a loss. In the original plot, he never missed a single dog bark or pig snort when he lost a bet.

That cold, ruthless personality, focused only on results, devoid of emotion… it's strangely compelling. Otherwise, they wouldn't call him the Great Love Immortal Venerable in Star Rail.

"Hey, your attitude is way too arrogant!" Sushang interjected again, her voice still clear, but now edged with a sharp anger. "Can't you discuss the rent arrears like civilized people?"

"Bullying? Me?" Scott feigned innocence, shrugging. "I'm simply offering a friendly reminder. May I inquire if the Chamber of Commerce can recover the rent?"

The secretary's face grew even whiter, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly for a moment before she managed a trembling whisper. "…Not… currently."

"The company entrusted the operation of this pier to your Chamber of Commerce, hoping Aurum Alley would flourish once more…" Scott's voice suddenly amplified, laced with exaggerated disappointment. "And look! Such a prime cargo pier, completely squandered!"

Hearing this, Daziel sighed inwardly.

Why is it always company people I run into, and always about owing money? he groaned internally. Are the plot planners truly out of ideas? Another debt repayment plotline involving the company? Wasn't this getting a little cliché?

Though, this plot point is supposed to predate Belobog... Why is it triggering now? Daziel pondered. No wonder I haven't encountered this before…

But, on the bright side, he thought, this time, Aurum Alley can be revitalized through genuine effort. At least, no more relying on the system to repay debts with… questionable favors.

The Belobog incident… though I didn't technically lose anything, it still felt a little like selling my soul.

Well, compared to Topaz, who isn't exactly a pure lamb herself... Daziel's thoughts took a cynical turn. Who says men don't suffer losses in these situations? I'm pretty sure I got the short end of the stick!

…

Meanwhile, Sushang, finally reaching her boiling point, straightened her back, puffed out her cheeks again, and stammered, "Who says the Chamber of Commerce definitely can't repay it? This is… if it can be repaid… maybe..."

"Oh, dare I even dream!" Scott clutched his chest dramatically, a mocking grin plastered across his face. "Tell you what, let's make a wager. If the Chamber of Commerce manages to repay the company's rent, I will bow my head and apologize before the elders and townsfolk of Aurum Alley…"

He paused for dramatic effect, sweeping his gaze over the gathered crowd before continuing, each word carefully enunciated: "I will also loudly proclaim, 'I am a foolish and blind idiot! I know nothing of heaven or earth, I can only bark and howl!' Then, I will learn to bark for your amusement. How does that sound?"

Scott's proposal rippled through the crowd, igniting a flurry of murmurs. Everyone seemed taken aback by the sheer audaciousness of his bet.

"Okay," Sushang declared, accepting the wager instantly, her eyes still bright and unwavering. She hadn't seemed to fully register the implications of Scott's words. "And if I lose the bet?"

"Simple," Scott replied, his triumphant smile widening. "You apologize to me in front of the same crowd, and… learn to bark for my amusement."

"What's so scary about that!" Sushang retorted, just as she was about to agree…

"Don't agree to him! Miss Sushang!" Daziel bellowed, finally breaking his silence, desperate to intervene. He knew all too well that Scott was deliberately goading Sushang, pushing her to act rashly and make a disastrous decision.

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